The Age of Innocence is one of Edith Wharton’s most beloved novels—the first by a woman to win the Pulitzer Prize—that follows a young man as he struggles to choose between passion and loyalty. Originally published in 1920, the novel takes a look back in time to 1870’s New York, otherwise known as the Gilded Age, an era of manners and rules, scandal and gossip. The novel begins with lawyer Newland Archer announcing his engagement to the May Welland. Both come from well-connected families, and the arrangement is one that New York’s high society smiles upon. On the very same evening, May’s cousin, the Countess Ellen Olenska, arrives in town from Europe, feeding the rumor mill with news that she’s fled her husband and intends to divorce. From the moment Newland meets Ellen his world shifts dramatically; she represents glamour and independence, an escape from the conventional life expected of him, and he is instantly enamored. As the two grow closer, Newland’s eyes open to the hypocrisy of his society, and he finds himself on the cusp on change, questioning if a life of possibility is worth leaving his traditions and morals behind.

This is my first time reading Edith Wharton, and I found her writing absolutely exhilarating. She delves deeply into her character’s hearts and carefully considers their inner turmoil, making Newland’s conundrum feel agonizingly real. Though the book is filled with passion, a lot of it is unspoken—Newland and Ellen communicate so much through a touch of the hand or a raised eyebrow—showcasing Wharton’s genius at subtlety. And when it is spoken, Wharton captures emotion with such precision that I’d often stop to savor a phrase; one particular favorite was when Newland says to Ellen, “Each time you happen to me all over again” (!!). From the mansions lining Fifth Avenue to the carriages navigating lamplit streets, I loved existing in the world of Old New York and imagining what the city used to be like before telephones and the subway. Also, I found it fascinating the way Wharton mirrors Newland’s journey with the transformation of New York at the turn of the century; both are caught between the old ways and the new, and must change in order to survive. I absolutely loved this captivating classic.

I’d recommend this book to…

• Anyone interested in sharp social commentary and witty repartee… it’s similar in style to Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
• Anyone who loves glamour, dinner parties, ballgowns, and scandal… it’s similar in theme to the HBO show The Gilded Age
• Anyone looking for something nostalgic and emotional… it’s similar in tone to Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín